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Olf THE AMERICAN JUTE. 



Paper by H. HOWSON, Esq., read at tlie Monthly Meeting of 
the Franklin Institute, October 16th, t862. 



Mr. President: 

I had the honor of submitting to the Members of this Institute, 
some months ago, several specimens of a fibre similar to, but of a 
much more crude character, than those now before the meeting. 

The fibre constitutes the outer covering or bark of the stalks 
of a North American perennial plant, of the order Malvaceae, 
known as the Hibiscus MoscJieutos, or Palustris — the plant as 
well as the fibre having received the name of American Jute. 
This term, however, may be considered inappropriate, for the 
reason that the Jute of the East Indies is the production of the 
Oochorus OUtorms, or Cochorus Capsularis, neither of which 
plants has any relation to the order Malvacece, and for the further 
reason that the fibres of the Sihiscus are not so liable to become 
deteriorated by exposure and washing in alkaline lyes as those 
of the Jute. 

The utility of the fibres of this plant was brought to light by 

Mr. W. J. Cantelo, who, during the last three years, has been 

actively engaged in examining and testing the peculiarites of 

plants indigenous to the Northern States, with the view of 

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discovering a fibre available as a substitute for linen rags in the 
manufacture of paper, for hemp in the making of ropes, matting, 
&c., and as a partial substitute for cotton or woolen in the man- 
ufacture of textile fabrics. 

A patent was granted on May loth last, for the utilizing of 
the fibres of the Hibiscus 3foseheutos, and this patent is now 
owned jointly by Mr. Cantelo, the discoverer, and his assignees, 
Messrs. Stuart & Peterson, the enterprising stove and hollow 
ware manufacturers of this city. 

These gentlemen, aided by Mr. Cantelo, have, during the last 
eighteen montl^, been actively engaged in investigating the sub- 
ject, and in prosecuting experiments with the view of determining 
the properties of the plant, the strength and value of the fibre, the 
requirements demanded for its proper cultivation, and the amount 
of fibre which can be obtained from one acre of ground. 

The proprietors of the patent are now prepared to lay before 
the public the satisfactory and highly important results of their 
very careful experiments. 

The Hibiscus MoscJieutos, is indigenous to the Northern 
States, and grows in abundance in swampy lands of Pennsylva- 
nia, New Jersey, New York, &c. ; in the marshes of Burlington 
County, New Jersey, it is especially abundant. 

In its natural state, stalks of the plant, when at their full 
growth, are from five to six, and even seven feet high, and vary 
from a quarter of an inch to five-eighths of an inch in diameter. 
The number of stalks from one root vary from eight to sixty ; 
and eighteen stalks of an average size will produce four ounces 
of disintegrated fibre. 

An acre of marsh land, in the neighborhood of Burlington, 
N. J., was plowed, and seeds of the '^^ Hibiscus Moscheutos," 
spread along the furrows on the 28th of April last. On exam- 
ining the land in September the ground was found to be thickly 



studded with seedlings, of which the drawing produced repre- 
sents a specimen. It should be understood that little or no care 
was taken to weed the ground, and to give that attention to the 
young plants which will be advisable during their first growth. 

It had been discovered bj previous experiment that on cutting 
one of the stalk? one season, a dozen or more would take its 
place the next, and that the plants would require no attention 
after the first year's growth. As to any liability of the plants 
becoming deteriorated from the ravages of insects, it was found 
that in no instance could any marks of insect depredations be 
observed on the stems, leaves, or roots of the plant. 

The next point to be ascertained was the amount of fibre 
which could be produced from an acre of ground, planted with 
the Hibiscus Moscheutos. 

This has been determined by a close observation of the plant 
in its natural state, and by weighing the fibre taken from a 
number of stalks of average dimensions. At a moderate calcu- 
lation, and taking into account the probability of loss from 
unforseen causes, three and a half tons of disintegrated fibre 
can be derived from one acre of ground. 

Another important point decided was the facility with which 
the fibre or bark of the stalks could be separated from the pith. 

It was discovered that this could be accomplished with ease 
and rapidity, even without the aid of machinery, which can be 
readily applied to the purpose. 

The bark after being detached from the pith is at once 
removed to a very simple apparatus, invented by Mr. Cantelo, 
when the bark is reduced in a comparatively short time to the dis- 
integrated fibrous condition shown by the specimens exhibited — 
the fibre in this state being ready for the market, either for con- 
version into rope or for paper stock. 

As to the value of the fibre it has been declared by experienced 



rope manufacturers to be far superior to manilla hemp or Jute — 
the specimens of rope exhibited being fully equal in strength 
and pliability to ordinary hempen rope. 

Two prominent paper manufacturers of this city have estima- 
ted the fibre to be worth $100 per ton, to be used as a substi- 
tute for linen rags in the manufacture of pape'r. 

The utility of the fibre as a substitute, or as a partial substitute, 
for cotton, woollen, or flax, in the manufacture of textile fabrics, 
has not yet been fully tested, but I am satisfied that the members 
will, after an examination of the specimens before them, be con- 
vinced that the utilizing of the fibre is not limited to the making 
of rope and paper, but that it is admirably adapted to the manu- 
facture of many textile fabrics. 

When we take into account the fact that fibre of the value 
of at least three hundred dollars can be derived from one acre 
of ground ; that the ground best adapted to its growth is of such 
a swampy character as to be unfit either for cultivating ordinary 
farm produce, or for grazing purposes ; that the plants require 
no attention after the first year's growth, but, unaided by any 
chemical or mechanical appliances, present a yearly supply of 
stalks ready to be converted into fibre ; when we consider the 
hardihood of the plant and its freedom from the ravages of 
insects, we must admit that the greatest credit is due to Mr. 
Cantelo, and that his discovery is of the greatest importance, as 
it opens new avenues for the exercise of agricultural, mercantile 
and mechanical pursuits, and tends to the utilizing of the swampy 
deserts with which our Northern States abound. 

I am anxious, Mr. President, that the members present should 
understand that the specimens of fibre have been prepared with- 
out the aid of any complex machinery or elaborate chemical 
apparatus — the appliances which the inventor has called to his 
aid being of the most simple character. 



The samples of rope were made by hand ; the maker asserting 
that had they been manufactured by the usual machinery the 
rope would have been of a much superior character. 

Although the specimens are most satisfactory, and are sufficient 
to convince the most skeptical observer of the importance of the 
discovery, its value must necessarily be still further developed by 
the aid of appliances which may be demanded by the prepara- 
tion of the fibre on a large scale. 

The attention of Mr. Cantelo has not been confined to the 
fibres of the Hibiscus Moscheutos alone. Few plants in this and 
the neighboring state of New Jersey have escaped his searching 
investigation and his elaborate tests. 

He has discovered that the plant next in importance to the 
Hihiscus, as regards its fibre bearing qualities, is the Abutilon 
Avicennce, an annual, readily cultivated, and hitherto considered 
a useless weed. The fibres of this plant, a specimen of which 
I submit for inspection, are of a silky character and extraordi- 
nary strength. 

The utilizing of the fibres of the Abutilon, as well as the 
disintegrating process alluded to, form subjects for further 
applications for patents. 

In conclusion, I would remark that a company — of which the 
proprietors of the patent will be members, — is about being 
organized for the cultivation, or I should rather say planting, 
(cultivation, as the term is usually understood, being unecssary,) 
Hibiscus Moscheutos, and the preparation of the fibres for the 
market. The members present will be satisfied that success 
must attend the efi'orts of an enterprising company who follow 
up with energy the prosecution of this important invention or 
discovery, which has been developed with such praiseworthy 
zeal by Mr. Cantelo and his assignees. 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

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I would add that any of the members or their friends who 
who may be desirous of making further inquiries relating to the 
subject "to which I have directed the attention of the meeting this 
evening, can examine the specimens deposited at the hall of the 
Franklin Institute, or those on exhibition at my offices. 

HENRY HOWSON. 

Philadelphia, October 15th, 1862. 



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